COLUMBUS (April 18, 2017) — The Greater Columbus Sports Commission and five university partners in The Ohio State University, Ohio University, Ohio Dominican University, Capital University and Thomas More College (Ky.) collectively submitted 47 NCAA Division I, II and III bids for 19 championship events in nine sports last August for the 2018-19 through 2021-22 academic years.

Today, the NCAA awarded Columbus twelve (12) championship bids in six sports (basketball, bowling, golf, lacrosse, rifle and volleyball) at the Division I, II, III and National Collegiate levels for this bid cycle.

These announcements further cement Columbus’ status as a premier NCAA host community, as the number of championships were one of the highest amounts awarded for any city. In the 2014-2018 bid cycle, Columbus received nine championships, also one of the highest amounts for any city, in seven sports out of a total of 30 bids in 11 sports.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, which Columbus hosted in record-setting fashion for the first time in December 2016, will return to Nationwide Arena with Ohio State as host in 2021. Nationwide Arena, the host of the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four, will also be home to the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship — First & Second Rounds. This will mark the fifth time the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has visited Columbus in 15 years (2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2019).

Additional NCAA championships returning to Columbus for a second consecutive bid cycle include the 2021 National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship. Ohio State will host this championship in 2017 at St. John Arena May 4-6 with the team looking to repeat as champions. The Buckeyes will also host the 2022 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship — Quarterfinals at Ohio Stadium after hosting the event in 2016.

Ohio Dominican will host the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship after hosting the event to sellout crowds this past March. Capital University will host the 2020 Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship after hosting the event in March 2016. This will represent seven consecutive years that NCAA men’s or women’s basketball is played in Columbus. Capital was also awarded the 2020 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.

“As the Sports Commission celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2017, we feel our collective relationship with the NCAA as a premier host community is the strongest it’s ever been,” said Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Director Linda Shetina Logan. “All of our university partners were amazing to work with and it’s great for Columbus’ future to add 12 new championships to the six we have left to host through 2018, including the NCAA Women’s Final Four. We’re so thankful for the community supporting all of these championships.”

“We are extremely excited to be able to host a variety of NCAA championships that will showcase our great city of Columbus, our surrounding communities and The Ohio State University,” Diana Sabau, Ohio State senior associate athletics director-external relations and strategic communications, said. “As we collaborate and move forward to future NCAA championships we will provide a remarkable experience for both the fans and student-athletes. We cannot wait to be a part of these opportunities and look forward to seeing you in Columbus at one of these NCAA championship events.”

The Columbus Region is set to host the following additional NCAA championship events through the 2017-2018 academic year: